“Starting fresh, I think that’s the most important thing,” he told reporters at the team’s media day. “With the expectations that are placed on the club now because of the moves that we’ve made, for myself, the pressure is going to be there.”

And to help Mason deal with that pressure, the Jackets decided what Mason needed most was an unfamiliar face. They hired goalie coach Ian Clark, who had no history with Mason and thus no preconceived ideas.

“He’s really just kind of wiped my memory clean,” said Mason.

Mason also said that Clark has helped him simplify his game, which he hopes will help him improve his .901 save percentage and 3.03 goals against average from a year ago.

THIS AND THAT:

Antoine Vermette said he’s capable of playing the right or left wing, but he’s more comfortable at center. If he’s moved out wide, he says he would probably lobby to continue to take faceoffs. He did just that when he played as a winger for Ottawa.

RJ Umberger echoed earlier comments from Scott Howson, saying there was a mutual interest in extending his contract. “Something will get done eventually here. I don’t think there’s a big hurry.”

Radek Martinek will miss the first day of training camp to attend a funeral for one of the hockey players who died in the plane crash in Russia this month.

Class move by the CBJ to have a certain bow-tied reporter ask the press conference’s first question…from California. The longtime radio man directed his inquiry to Scott Arniel via speakerphone.